Annals of Saudi medicine
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Annals of Saudi medicine · Mar 2005
Observations on the management of acute pain crisis in adult sickle cell disease in eastern Saudi Arabia.
Sickle cell pain crisis continues to challenge patients and health professionals in places like Saudi Arabia, where the disease is common, and use of narcotic analgesics is strictly controlled. We sought to find the most effective and appropriate pain control regime for adult sickle cell pain crisis in Saudi Arabian patients. ⋯ Greater empathy and individualized treatment are required for sickle cell pain crisis patients because of their variable clinical presentation, response to medications, and the regularity of pain in their lives. The observed gender differences in pain response require further study.
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Annals of Saudi medicine · Mar 2005
Comparative StudyProtocol-driven vs. physician-driven electrolyte replacement in adult critically ill patients.
The intensive care unit is a dynamic environment, where high numbers of patients cared for by health care workers of different experiences and backgrounds might result in great variability in patient care. Protocol-driven interventions may facilitate timely and uniform care of common problems, like electrolyte disturbances. We prospectively compared protocol-driven (PRD) vs. physician-driven (PHD) electrolyte replacement in adult critically ill patients. ⋯ This study shows that a protocol-driven replacement strategy for potassium, magnesium and phosphate is more efficient and as safe as a physician-driven replacement strategy.